Ellis Wilson: High School Students’ Gallery

The artworks featured on the next few pages were created by high school juniors and seniors as part of a study unit built around the life and works of African-American painter Ellis Wilson. Their assignment was to create an “Ellis Wilson-style” painting, and we think the results are impressive!

Click on the thumbnail image or the text link to see the complete painting.

See our elementary gallery for examples of student works from an Ellis Wilson-inspired figure drawing activity.

The Celebration by Katie R.

Mother and Child by Jennifer W.

Mending the Barn by Sarah S.

Lumberjacks on Break by Loi L.

Praying in the Field by Jennifer R.

KET would like to hear from other teachers who use Ellis Wilson—So Much To Paint in the classroom or have created instructional units around the Harlem Renaissance, African-American art or artists, or other themes suggested by these materials. Please with your ideas so we can share them with your colleagues!